First Earnings
The other day, I decided to withdraw the money I had earned after posting articles for the last seven months.
A few days later, I received a message:
“Your payment of $52.35 will be sent within the next 3–5 business days.”
Immediately, I smiled. I heard my own voice in my head say, “Do not despise small beginnings.”
I told my Joey, “Guess what? I have my first payment coming from the site! After they took their percentage, I made…” and I told him the amount.
He smiled too. “Wow, I’m so happy for you!” 😄
Some Background
At the beginning of this year, I broke a tooth.
I’m already missing three on my bottom row, this makes the fourth that will either have to be removed or replaced.
When I went to the dentist, he said, “I can pull it and we can replace it. Here are your options.”
As he handed me the paperwork, my heart sank. I thought maybe they could crown it, but the break was too severe.
All of my options came with a bill I simply cannot afford on my husband’s disability income.
While he has dental insurance through the VA, caregivers aren’t given that kind of assistance.
I pay out of pocket for my own dental insurance, but it only covers cleanings and basic work. According to them, this is “cosmetic.”
The tooth is close to the front, and even if they pulled it, I couldn’t afford to replace it.
I still need to replace the others that are missing. Those are further back, but they still bother me, I can hardly chew my food. 😔
Turning to Prayer
I went home that day so discouraged.
I spent a good portion of the evening Googling what could happen if I left the tooth broken, which only filled me with more anxiety.
But what choice did I have?
So, I went to the Lord and I prayed:
“Lord, I’m not going to do a GoFundMe. Instead, I’ll work and earn what I need.”
Up to that point, I’d had such writer’s block. But I decided to ask the Lord for help.
In all transparency, I prayed,
“Please, let me wake up and the teeth be replaced!” (I promise, I really prayed that.) 😅
Some mornings I’d wake up and brush my tongue across my teeth to see if the holes were filled.
Other times, I’d go to the mirror to check if the cracked tooth was miraculously healed.
One day I even told the Lord,
“You placed a coin in the mouth of a fish once, surely You can place some teeth in mine.”
I have issues. 😂
But after those prayers, I would always come back to the same thought: Just write and earn the money, the teeth aren't growing back!
Words Flowing Again
Every time I sit down to write now, the words flow naturally.
Grammar has always been one of the reasons I haven’t written a book yet, but thankfully, there are tools to help with that now.
I write my articles, run them through a grammar check, and publish.
Now the words won’t stop coming.
Every day I have new thoughts and ideas, but I have to manage my time well.
Like many of us, my days are full, homeschooling, cooking, caring for my husband, doing laundry, keeping the house, and everything in between.
I’m not complaining; I truly love to serve with joy.
It just means there isn’t much time left once I consider the load I carry.
I’ll sit down to write, and then a loved one needs something.
I stop what I’m doing to help, thinking, I have so much to write, I’ll come back to it later.
But as I go about my tasks, more words come. So I open my notes, jot them down, and close it again.
Since my husband has the hardest nights, I often stay up to care for him.
It’s during those late night hours that I can finally write.
I open my notes, gather my thoughts from the day, and write my articles. ✍️
Small Beginnings Matter
Not exactly how I expected the writer’s block to break, but I’m not complaining.
I use the time I have and do what I can. I know the labor isn’t in vain.
When I saw that small payout, I thought, It’s small, but it’s something.
Do not despise small beginnings, I whispered to myself with a huge smile, because a small beginning is better than not beginning at all. 🌱
I know many people who have started small businesses, men and women who want to live with integrity and provide for their families.
Living in America gives them the opportunity to build something of their own, whether it’s writing, doing hair, music, a cleaning business, a food truck, or a restaurant.
The start is always hard. There’s little to no support, and most days are exhausting.
But don’t despise the small beginning.
First, commit your ways to the Lord. Do everything as unto Him, and stay honest.
Don’t be greedy; do unto others what you would want done unto you.
Start wherever and however you can, and even if it takes years to get off the ground, don’t give up.
God honors the work done in faith. 💪
Trusting and Working
So here I am: writing, working, trusting.
That first payout was such a blessing.
I don’t despise it, if anything, it motivated me to keep going.
In seven months, I made $52.35, and I’m going to trust that as I keep working, He will keep providing. 💻
The truth is, our situation isn’t much different from many others who are struggling.
As a caregiver to my husband, who’s been completely neglected by the VA, it’s easy to feel hopeless at times.
He receives treatment, but it’s not the greatest, and it’s left him feeling more helpless than hopeful.
Seeing what he endures, my own situation can feel even more helpless.
But I’m reminded that the flesh is weak and that we place no confidence in it.
With that said, God has the final say in all things.
So I will continue to trust Him, share our story, and work hard.
God will do the rest. 🙏
Closing Reflection: Learning Long-Suffering
Long-suffering isn’t just about waiting.
It’s about learning to trust God’s timing when nothing seems to move.
Scripture says,
“Let patience have her perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.” (James 1:4)
I’m learning that these waiting seasons aren’t wasted.
They’re the places where faith deepens and character is formed.
Paul wrote,
“We rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.” (Romans 5:3–4)
Every ache, every delay, and every small beginning has purpose.
God isn’t just providing, He’s preparing.
And in that truth, I rest. 🌿 And I write… ✍️